Film cassette with exposure status indicator

ABSTRACT

A film cassette capable of advancing a filmstrip automatically from a light-tight cassette shell whether the filmstrip is generally unexposed, partly exposed or substantially completely exposed, is characterized in that a film-exposure status indicator can be disposed in any one of three corresponding positions comprising unexposed, partly exposed and exposed positions. The status indicator includes a physical discontinuity which occupies first and second partly in-common areas when the status indicator is in its unexposed and partly exposed positions, respectively, to allow the discontinuity to be identically sensed at the same location within an in-common portion of the first and second areas regardless of whether the status indicator is in the unexposed or partly exposed position and, alternately, to allow the discontinuity to be sensed at another location within a particular portion of the first area not in-common with the second area only when the status indicator is in the unexposed position, and which occupies a third area when the status indicator is in its exposed position that does not extend to either one of the two locations to prevent the discontinuity from being sensed at each one of those locations when the status indicator is in the unexposed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Reference is made to commonly assigned copending applications Ser. No.384,332 entitled FILM CASSETTE HAVING FILM-EXPOSURE STATUS INDICATOR,and filed July 24, 1989 in the names of David C. Smart et al; Ser. No.[our Docket No. 57640] entitled CAMERA FOR USE WITH FILM CASSETTE HAVINGFILM-EXPOSURE STATUS INDICATOR, and filed Aug. 8, 1989 in the names ofDavid C. Smart and Dennis E. Baxter, Ser. No. 407,170 entitled SIMPLECAMERA FOR USE WITH FILM CASSETTE HAVING FILM-EXPOSURE STATUS INDICATOR,and filed Sept. 14, 1989 in the names of David C. Smart and Dennis E.Baxter, and Ser. No. 436,265 entitled CAMERA APPARATUS FOR PREVENTINGLOAD OF EXPOSED FILM, and filed Nov. 14, 1989 in the name of David C.Smart.

The foregoing applications cross-referenced above are incorporated (byreference) in this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to the field of photography, andparticularly to film cassettes. More specifically, the invention relatesto a film cassette having a film-exposure status indicator.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In conventional 35 mm film manufacturers' cassettes, such asmanufactured by Eastman Kodak Co. and Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd., thefilmstrip is wound on a flanged spool which is rotatably supportedwithin a cylindrical shell. A leading or forwardmost portion of thefilmstrip approximately 21/3 inches long, commonly referred to as a"film leader", normally protrudes from a light-trapped slit or mouth ofthe cassette shell. One end of the spool has a short axial extensionwhich projects from the shell, enabling the spool to be turned by hand.If the spool is manually rotated in an unwinding direction, the filmroll inside the shell will tend to expand radially since the inner endof the filmstrip is attached to the spool, and the fogged leader portionprotruding from the slit will remain stationary. The film roll canexpand radially until a non-slipping relation is established between itsoutermost convolution and the inner curved wall of the shell. Once thisnon-slipping relation exists, there is a bonding effect between the filmroll and the shell which prevents further rotation of the spool in theunwinding direction. Thus, rotation of the spool in the unwindingdirection cannot serve to advance the filmstrip out of the shell, and itis necessary in the typical 35 mm camera to engage the protruding leaderportion to draw the filmstrip out of the shell.

A 35 mm film cassette has been proposed which, unlike conventional filmcassettes, can be operated to automatically advance the filmstrip out ofthe cassette shell be rotating the film spool in the unwindingdirection. Moreover, the film leader is non-protruding, i.e. it islocated entirely within the cassette shell. Specifically, in U.S. Pat.No. 4,423,943, granted Jan. 3, 1984, there is disclosed a film cassettewherein the outermost convolution of the film roll wound on the filmspool is radially constrained by respective circumferential lips of twoaxially spaced flanges of the spool to prevent the outermost convolutionfrom contacting an inner wall of the cassette shell. The trailing end ofthe filmstrip is secured to the film spool, and the forward or leadingend of the filmstrip is slightly tapered to allow it to freely extendfrom between the circumferential lips and rest against the shell wall.During unwinding rotation of the film spool, the leading end of thefilmstrip is advance to and through a film passageway opening in orderto exit the cassette shell. As a result, all that is needed to advancethe filmstrip out of the cassette shell is to rotate the film spool inthe unwinding direction. However, according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,943,the film cassette is intended to be loaded in a camera only after thenon-protruding leader is advanced to the outside of the cassette shell.In the patent, it is suggested that one manually rotate the film spoolrelative to the cassette shell until the film leader can be manuallygrasped and attached to a film advancing device in the camera. Thus, thecamera is not used to rotate the film spool to advance the filmstripfrom the cassette shell.

More recently, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,306, granted May 30, 1989 and inU.S. Pat. No. 4,846,418, granted July 11, 1989, there are disclosedother film cassettes wherein a non-protruding leader is advancedautomatically to the outside of the cassette shell responsive torotation of the film spool in an unwinding direction. In those patents,as compared to U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,943, however, there is not suggestionto manually rotate the film spool to expel the film leader.

In conventional 35 mm film manufacturers' cassettes, after the filmstripis completely exposed, the film spool is rotated in winding direction torewind the film leader into the cassette shell. Since the film leadercannot subsequently be advanced out of the cassette shell (because ofthe binding effect between the film roll and the shell), this usuallyserves as an indication that the filmstrip is completely exposed.Conversely, in the film cassettes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,423,943,4,834,306, and 4,846,418, the film leader can be automatically advancedout of the cassette shell by rotating the film spool in the unwindingdirection. This can be done regardless of whether the filmstrip isunexposed, completely exposed, or only partly exposed. Thus, the filmcassettes provide no indication as to the exposure status of thefilmstrip.

THE CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

Cross-referenced applications Ser. Nos. 390,931 and 407,170 disclosedifferent type cameras for use with a film cassette which is inherentlycapable of automatically advancing a filmstrip from the cassette shellwhether the filmstrip is generally unexposed, only partly exposed orsubstantially completely exposed. The film cassette has a film-exposurestatus indicator movable from an unexposed position for providing avisible indication that the filmstrip is generally unexposed, to apartly exposed position for providing a visible indication that thefilmstrip is partly exposed, and to an exposed position for providing avisible indication that exposure of the filmstrip is completed. Sincethe camera disclosed in cross-referenced application Ser. No. 390,931 iscapable of returning the filmstrip to the cassette shell prematurelywhen the filmstrip is only partly exposed and of advancing the filmstripfrom the cassette subsequently to complete its exposure, it includescontrol means that operates drive means to move the status indicatorfrom the unexposed position to the partly exposed position in the eventthe filmstrip returned to the cassette shell is partly exposed and tomove the statue indicator from either the unexposed or partly exposedposition to the exposed position in the event the filmstrip returned tothe cassette shell is substantially completely exposed. Since the cameradisclosed in cross-referenced application Ser. no. 407,170 is intendedto only receive a film cassette containing generally unexposed film (asopposed to partly exposed film), it is adapted to move the statusindicator from the unexposed position to the exposed position withoutstopping at the partly exposed position. However, neither of the camerasdisclosed in these cross-referenced applications includes any means thatwould prohibit receipt of the film cassette under certain exposureconditions such as when the status indicator is in its exposed position.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. 436,265 discloses apparatus forpreventing the loading of exposed film in a camera. More specifically,in a camera to be used with a light-tight cassette which is inherentlycapable of automatically advancing a filmstrip from the cassette shellwhether the filmstrip is generally unexposed, only partly exposed orsubstantially completely exposed, and which has a status indicator forproviding a visible indication of the exposure status of the filmstrip,a sensing/blocking member is included to cooperate with the statusindicator to prevent cassette loading into the camera in one embodimentonly when the status indicator indicates that the filmstrip iscompletely exposed and in another embodiment either when the statusindicator indicates that the filmstrip is partly exposed or it indicatesthat the filmstrip is completely exposed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A film cassette capable of advancing a filmstrip automatically from alight-tight cassette shell whether the filmstrip is generally unexposed,partly exposed or substantially completely exposed, is characterized inthat a film-exposure status indicator can be disposed in any one ofthree unique exposure-related positions comprising an unexposed positionfor providing a visible indication that the filmstrip is only partlyexposed, and an exposed position for providing a visible indication thatthe filmstrip is only partly exposed, and an exposed position forproviding a visible indication that the filmstrip is substantiallycompletely exposed. According to the invention, the statue indicatorincludes a physical discontinuity which occupies first and second partlyin-common areas when the status indicator is in its unexposed and partlyexposed positions, respectively, to allow the discontinuity to beidentically sensed at the same exact location within an in-commonportion of the first and second areas regardless of whether the statusindicator is in the unexposed or partly exposed position and,alternately, to allow the discontinuity to be sensed at another exactlocation within a particular portion of the first area not in-commonwith the second area only when the status indicator is in the unexposedposition, and which occupies a third area when the status indicator isin its exposed position that does not extend to either one of the exactlocations to prevent the discontinuity from being sensed at each one ofthose locations when the status indicator is in the exposed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a film cassette having afilm-exposure status indicator as disclosed in cross-referencedapplications Ser. No. [our Docket No. 57640], Ser. No. [our Docket No.57764] and Ser. No. [our Docket No. 57794];

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the film cassette, illustrating thecassette shell open to reveal a film roll coiled about a film spool;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are end views in cross-section of the cassette shell, thefilm roll, and the film spool;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevation views of the film roll and the film spool,illustrating the manner in which the film roll is stored on the filmspool;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are elevation views similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, illustratingthe manner in which the film roll is unwound from the film spool.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are exploded perspective views of the cassette shell andthe film-exposure status indicator;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic views depicting the status indicator ina normal first or unexposed position to indicate the film roll isgenerally unexposed;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic views depicting the status indicator ina second or partly exposed position to indicate the film roll is onlypartly exposed;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic views depicting the status indicator ina third or exposed position to indicate the film roll is substantiallycompletely exposed;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of camera apparatus including asensing/blocking member that cooperates with the status indicator of thefilm cassette to prevent loading of the film cassette into a loadingchamber when the status indicator is in its third or exposed position;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are schematic views depicting interaction of thesensing/blocking member and the status indicator when the statusindicator is on its first or unexposed position;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic views depicting interaction of thesensing/blocking member and the status indicator when the statusindicator is in its second or portly exposed position;

FIGS. 17A and 17B ar schematic views depicting interaction of thesensing/blocking member and the status indicator when the statusindicator is in its third or exposed position;

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 are schematic views depicting interaction of thesensing/blocking member and the status indicator when the statusindicator is in its unexposed, partly exposed, and exposed positions,respectively, according to a variation of the camera apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

the invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a 35 mm filmcassette. Because the features of this type of film cassette aregenerally well known, the description which follows is directed inparticular to elements forming part of or cooperating directly with thedisclosed embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that otherelements not specifically shown or described may take various formsknown to persons of ordinary skill in the art.

The Film Cassette

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a 35 mm filmcassette 1 comprising a light-tight cassette shell 3 and a film spool 5which is rotatable about an axis X in film unwinding and windingdirections U and W within the cassette shell. The cassette shell 3consists of two shell halves 7 and 9 which are mated along respectivegrooved and stepped edge portions 11 and 13. The mated halves 7 and 9define upper and lower aligned circular openings 15 and 17 forrelatively shorter and longer opposite end extensions 19 and 21 of aspool core or hub 23, and they define a film passageway 25 to theexterior of the cassette shell 3. The longer and shorter end extensions19 and 21 of the spool core 23 each include an annular groove 27 whichmates with a corresponding edge 29 of the respective openings 15 and 17to rotatably support the film spool 5 for rotation about the axis X inthe film unwinding and winding directions U and W. A known black velvetor plush material 31 lines the interior of the film passageway 25 toprevent ambient light from entering the film passageway.

A roll 33 of 35 mm filmstrip F is coiled about the spool core 23 to formsuccessive film convolutions. As shown in FIG. 3, the film roll 33includes an outermost convolution 35 which is a film leader having aleading or forward end 37, and it includes a next-inward convolution 39coiled behind the outermost convolution. The inner or trailing end of aninnermost convolution, not shown, of the film roll 33 is secured to thespool core 23.

A pair of upper and lower identical, very thin, flexible filmconstraining flanges 41 and 43 are coaxially spaced along the spool care23 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5. The two flanges 41 and 43 compriserespective integral disks 45 and 47 and respective integral annular lipsor skirts 49 and 51 which circumferentially extend from the disks. Thetwo disks 45 and 47 cover opposite flat sides, not shown, of the filmroll 33 which are defined by corresponding opposite longitudinal edges53 and 55 of each successive convolution of the film roll, and, theyhave respective central holes, not shown, through which the spool core23 axially extends to permit rotation of the spool core relative to theflanges 41 and 43. See FIG. 5. The annular lips 49 and 51 overlap theoutermost convolution (film leader) 35 of the film roll 33 radiallyoutwardly of the respective longitudinal edges 53 and 55 of thatconvolution to radially confine the convolution to thus prevent it fromradially expanding or clock-springing into substantial contact with aninterior curved wall 57 of the cassette shell 3. A lip-receiving notch59 is cut in the outermost convolution (film leader) 35 along itslongitudinal edge 55, relatively close to its leading end 37, to receivea peripheral section 51' of the annular lip 51. This allows a relativelyshort edge-section 61 of the outermost convolution (film leader) 35connecting the leading end 37 and the notch 59 to overlap the annularlip 51 radially outwardly to thus maintain the leading end spaced aradial distance D from the next-inward convolution 39 of the film roll33. See FIGS. 3 and 6. The leading end 37 has a forward edge 63 inclinedfrom the longitudinal edge 53 of the outermost convolution 35 to theother longitudinal edge 55 of that convolution to form a forward-mosttip or tab 65 of the convolution which, like the edge-section 61,overlaps the annular lip 51 radially outwardly. See FIG. 5.

A film stripper-guide 67 formed with the cassette half 7 is positionedimmediately inward of the inner entry to the film passageway 25 to bereceived between the leading end 37 of the outermost convolution (filmleader) 35 and the next-inward convolution 39, to pick up the leadingend and guide it into the film passageway responsive to rotation of thefilm spool 5 in the unwinding direction U. The leading end 37 will beadvanced over the stripper-guide 67 and into the film passageway 25,rather than between the stripper-guide and the next-inward convolution39, because it is spaced the radial distance D from the latterconvolution. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the leading end 37 will belocated within range of the stripper-guide 67 due to such spacing fromthe next-inward convolution 39.

When the leading end 37 of the outermost convolution (film leader) 35 isadvanced over the stripper-guide 67 responsive to rotation of the filmspool 5 in the unwinding direction U, the longitudinal edges 53 and 55of that convolution start to gently flex respective arcuate portions ofthe two flanges 41 and 43 axially away from one another as shown in FIG.8, first to allow the notch 59 to separate from the lip section 51', andthen to allow successive longitudinal sections of the film roll 33(beginning with the leading end) to exit from between the flanges to theoutside of the cassette shell 3. The local flexing of the flanges 41 and43 occurs because the film width W_(F) between the longitudinal edges 53and 55 is slightly greater than the axial spacing A_(S) between theannular lips 49 and 51. Moreover, successive convolutions of the filmroll 33 have a resistance to transverse bowing that is greater than theresistance of the flanges 41 and 43 to be locally flexed. A pair of flatcurved bearing members 69 extend from the interior wall 57 of thecassette shell 3 to lie flatly against successive arcuate portions ofthe two disks 45 and 47 as the flanges 41 and 43 are locally flexedaxially away from one another, to thereby return the flexed portions ofthe flanges to their normal original non-flexed condition.

A slot 71 is cut in the outermost convolution (film leader) 35substantially proximate its leading end 37. A tooth 73 fixed to theinterior wall 57 of the cassette shell 3 has a free pointed end 75 whichis positioned to be received in the slot 71 to thus engage the outermostconvolution (film leader) 35, when the film spool 5 is rotated in thewinding direction W as shown in FIG. 4, and to exit the slot to thusdisengage that convolution, when the film spool is rotated in theunwinding direction U as shown in FIG. 3. The engagement of theoutermost convolution 35 and the tooth 73 responsive to rotation of thefilm spool in the winding direction W prevents the leading end 37 ofthat convolution from coming to rest between the stripper-guide 67 andthe next-inward convolution 39.

When the spool core 23 is initially rotated in the unwinding directionU, the two flanges 41 and 43 momentarily may remain stationary and thefilm roll 33, since its inner end is attached to the spool core, tendsto expand radially or clock-spring to ensure a firm non-slippingrelation between the outermost convolution (film leader) 35 of the filmroll and the annular lips 49 and 51 of the flanges. Then, furtherrotation of the spool core 23 will similarly rotate the flanges 41 and43. As a result, the leading end 37 of the outermost convolution (filmleader) 35 will be advanced over the stripper-guide 67, causingsuccessive arcuate portions of the flanges 41 and 43 to be flexedaxially away from one another as shown in FIG. 8. This first allows thenotch 59 to separate from the lip section 51', and then it allowssuccessive longitudinal sections of the film roll 33 (beginning with theleading end 37) to exit from between the flanges to the outside of thecassette shell 3.

If the film spool 5 is rotated in the winding direction W before theentire length of the filmstrip F has been exposed, for example in aphotographic camera, and it is desired to subsequently use the remainingavailable portion of the filmstrip at a later time, the film spool isrotated substantially until the slot 71 receives the free end 75 of thetooth 73 to thus engage the outermost convolution 35 (film leader) tothe tooth. Thereafter, to use the remaining available portion of thefilmstrip F, for example in a photographic camera, the film spool 5 isrotated in the unwinding direction U to disengage the outermostconvolution (film leader) 35 from the tooth 73 and to re-advance thefilmstrip to the outside of the cassette shell 3.

The Film-Exposure Status Indicator Of The Film Cassette

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a ring-shaped film-exposure status indicator 77having a central aperture 79 into which projects a neck-like extension81 of one of two opposite exterior ends 83 and 85 of the cassette shell3. The indicator 77 has three evenly spaced, radially inward tabs 87,89, and 91 that fit into a peripheral annular groove 93 in the neck-likeextension 81 to support the indicator for rotation about the axis Xrelative to the cassette shell 3 and the film spool 5.

The indicator 77 is intended to be rotated, for example in the windingdirection W, from an original or normal first position, shown in FIGS.11A and 14, to successive second and third positions, shown in FIGS. 12Aand 13A, for providing respective visible indications that the filmstripF stored in the cassette shell 3 is generally unexposed, the filmstriphas been returned to the inside of the shell before all of the filmframes have been exposed, and the filmstrip is substantially completelyexposed. To achieve there visible indications, a pointer 94 is formed onthe indicator 77 for individual alignment with each of three successiveimprints "UNEXPOSED", "PARTIAL", and "EXPOSED" printed on the outside ofthe cassette shell 3. See FIG. 9. When the indicator 77 is in its firstor unexposed position, shown in FIGS. 11A and 15A, the pointer 94 pointsto the imprint "UNEXPOSED". When the indicator 77 is in its second orpartly exposed position, shown in FIGS. 12A and 16A, the pointer 94points to the imprint "PARTIAL". When the indicator 77 is in its thirdor exposed position, shown in FIGS. 13A and 17A, the pointer 94 pointsto the imprint "EXPOSED".

Cooperative engagement means are formed on the exterior end 83 of thecassette shell 3 and the underside of the indicator 77 for limitingrotation of the indicator unidirectionally in the winding direction Wfrom its first or unexposed position to its second or partly exposedposition and from the second position to its third or exposed position,and for preventing rotation of the indicator out of the third position.Specifically, the engagement means formed on the exterior end 83 of thecassette shell 3 comprises a pair of identical ramps 95 and 99, eachhaving an inclined surface 101 and a cliff surface 103, and beingradially in-line and equally spaced from the axis X. See FIGS. 9, 11A,and 11B. The engagement means formed on the underside of the indicator77 comprises four identical ramps 105, 107, 109, and 111, each having aninclined surface 113 and a cliff surface 115, and each being equallyspaced from the axis X, and a single flat 117 having two identical cliffsurfaces 119 and 121 similarly spaced from the axis X. See FIGS. 10, 11Aand 11B. When the indicator is in its first or unexposed position, shownin FIGS. 11A and 11B, the cliff surface 103 of the ramp 95 is locatedadjacent the cliff surface 119 of the flat 117, to absolutely preventrotation of the indicator in the unwinding direction U, and the cliffsurface 103 of the ramp 99 is located opposite the inclined surface 113of the ramp 109, to lightly restrain the indicator from being rotated inthe winding direction W. Thus, the indicator 77 is secured in the firstor unexposed position, but can be moved to the second or partly exposedposition. If the indicator 77 is then rotated in the winding directionW, the inclined surface 113 of the ramp 109 will move over the cliffsurface 103 of the ramp 99. When the indicator 77 is in its second orpartly exposed position, shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the cliff surface103 of the ramp 95 is located adjacent the cliff surface 115 of the ramp105, to absolutely prevent rotation of the indicator in the unwindingdirection U, and the cliff surface 103 of the ramp 99 is locatedopposite the inclined surface 113 of the ramp 111, to lightly restrainthe indicator from being rotated in the winding direction W. Thus, theindicator 77 is secured in the second or partly exposed position, butcan be moved to the third or exposed position. If the indicator 77 isthen rotated in the winding direction W, the inclined surface 113 of theramp 111 will move over the cliff surface 103 of the ramp 99. When theindicator 77 is in its third or exposed position, shown in FIGS. 13A and13B, the cliff surface 103 of the ramp 95 is located adjacent the cliffsurface 115 of the ramp 107, to absolutely prevent rotation of theindicator in the unwinding direction U, and the cliff surface 103 of theramp 99 is located adjacent the cliff surface 121 of the flat 117, toabsolutely prevent rotation of the indicator in the winding direction.Thus, the indicator 77 cannot be moved out of the third or exposedposition.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 14, the indicator 77 includes an upstandingannular lip 123 concentrically arranged about the axis X. A gap or void125 in the annular lip 123 defines the longitudinal limits of adiscontinuity with respect to the lip, comprising a beveled (inclined)surface 127 of the indicator 77. When the indicator 77 is in its firstor unexposed position, the beveled surface 127 occupies a first areaindicated by the arrow-line 129 in FIG. 15A. Conversely, when theindicator 77 is in its second or partly exposed position, the beveledsurface 127 occupies a second area indicated by the arrow-line 131 inFIG. 16A. As depicted in FIG. 16A, the first area 129 and the secondarea 131 partly share the same space or are partly in-common to effectan in-common portion of the two areas indicated by the arrow-line 133,and to effect a particular portion of the first area indicated by thearrow-line 135 which is not in-common with the second area. When theindicator 77 is in its third or exposed position, the beveled surface127 occupies a third area indicated by the arrow-line 137 in FIG. 17A.The significance of the in-common portion 133 of the first and secondareas 129 and 131, the non in-common portion 135 of the first area, andthe third area 137 will become apparent from the description of cameraapparatus which follows.

Camera Apparatus - Preferred

Camera apparatus 201 is shown in FIG. 14 for use with the film cassette1 having the film-exposure status indicator 77. The camera apparatus 201includes a camera body 203 having a loading chamber 205 with an entryopening 207 for receiving the film cassette 1 longitudinally or axially(endwise) into the chamber. A sensing member 209 located within a slot211 opening into the loading chamber 205 is urged by a leaf spring 213to pivot clockwise in FIG. 14 about a support pin 215 until a hook-likeend 217 of the sensing member protrudes into the loading chamber 205. Inthis normal position, the sensing member 209 is disposed to locate itshook-like end 217 for abutment with the indicator 77 of the filmcassette 1 when the cassette is inserted lengthwise into the loadingchamber 205.

As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, when the indicator 77 is in the unexposedposition and the film cassette 1 is first inserted lengthwise into theloading chamber 205, the beveled surface 127 of the indicator contactsthe hook-like end 217 of the sensing member 209 to cam or pivot thesensing member out of the way of the indicator to allow the cassette tobe further inserted into the loading chamber. The same occurs as shownin FIGS. 16A and 16B, when the indicator 77 is in the partly exposedposition. However, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, when the indicator 77is in the exposed position and the film cassette 1 is first insertedlengthwise into the loading chamber 205, the annular lip 123 (ratherthan the beveled surface 127) of the indicator 77 contacts the hook-likeend 217 of the sensing member 209, causing the annular lip to be caughtby the hook-like end to thereby prevent further insertion of thecassette into the loading chamber.

The significance of the in-common portion 133 of the first and secondarea 129 and 131 that are occupied by the beveled surface 127 of theindicator 77 in FIGS. 15A and 16A can now be appreciated. That is, withthe camera apparatus 201, the beveled surface 127 can be identicallysensed at the same location (within the in-common portion 133) by thehook-like end 217 of the sensing member 205 regardless of whether theindicator 77 is in the unexposed position as in FIG. 15A or is in thepartly exposed position as in FIG. 16A. Also, the significance of thethird area 137 that is occupied by the beveled surface 127 in FIG. 17Acan now be appreciated. That is, with the camera apparatus 201, thebeveled surface 127 cannot be sensed by the hook-like end 217 of thesensing member 205 when the indicator 77 is in the exposed position asin FIG. 17A because the third area 137 does not extend to the hook-likeend. As a result, the annular lip 123 of the indicator 77 will be caughtby the hook-like end. See FIG. 17B.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. [our Docket No. 57640] disclosesdrive means which may be includes in the camera apparatus 201 to movethe indicator 77 from the unexposed position to the partly exposedposition in the event the filmstrip F returned to the cassette shell 3is only partly exposed and the film cassette 1 is removed from theloading chamber 205. Also, the drive means can move the indicator 77from either the unexposed or partly exposed position to the exposedposition in the event the filmstrip F returned to the cassette shell 3is substantially completely exposed and the film cassette 1 is removedfrom the loading chamber 205.

Camera Apparatus - Alternate

FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 illustrate a slightly modified version of the cameraapparatus 201. The modification concerns the location of the slot 211and the sensing member 209 including its hook-like end 217 relative tothe beveled surface 127 of the indicator 77. In FIGS. 18-20, the slot isindicated as 211', the sensing member is indicated as 209', and thehook-like end is indicated as 217'.

As can be appreciated from FIG. 18, when the indicator 77 is in theunexposed position and the film cassette 1 is first inserted lengthwiseinto the loading chamber 205, the beveled surface 127 of the indicatorcontacts the hook-like end 217' of the sensing member 209' to cam orpivot the sensing member out of the way of the indicator to allow thecassette to the further inserted in the loading chamber. However, asshown in FIGS. 19 and 20, when the indicator 77 is in the partly exposedor exposed position and the film cassette 1 is first inserted lengthwiseinto the loading chamber 205, the annular lip 123 (rather than thebeveled surface 127) of the indicator 77 contacts the hook-like end 217'of the sensing member 209', causing the annular lip to be caught by thehook-like end to thereby prevent further insertion of the cassette intothe loading chamber.

The significance of the non in-common portion 135 of the first area 129that is occupied by the beveled surface 127 of the indicator in FIG. 18can now be appreciated. That is, when comparing FIG. 18 with FIGS. 19and 20, it will be seen that the beveled surface 127 can be sensed atone location (within the non in-common portion 135) by the hook-like end217' of the sensing member 209' when the indicator is in the unexposedposition as in FIG. 18. The beveled surface 127 cannot be sensed by thehook-like end 217' of the sensing member 209' when the indicator 77 isin the partly exposed position as in FIG. 19 or is in the exposedposition as in FIG. 20.

Cross-referenced application Ser. No. [our Docket No. 57764] disclosesdrive means which may be included to move the indicator 77 from theunexposed position to the exposed position without stopping at thepartly exposed position in the event the filmstrip F returned to thecassette shell 3 is partly or completely exposed and the film cassette 1is removed from the loading chamber 205.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications can be effected with the ordinary skill in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A film cassette wherein a filmstrip can be advancedautomatically to the outside of a light-tight cassette shell in order toexpose said filmstrip and can be returned entirely to the inside of saidcassette shell before the filmstrip is substantially completely exposed,is characterized in that:a film-exposure status indicator is supportedfor movement relative to said cassette shell to be disposed in any oneof two unique exposure-related positions comprising an unexposedposition for providing a visible indication that said filmstrip isgenerally unexposed and a partly exposed position for providing avisible indication that the filmstrip is only partly exposed; saidstatus indicator includes a physical discontinuity which occupies firstand second partially in-common areas when the status indicator is in itsunexposed and partly exposed positions, respectively, to allow saiddiscontinuity to be identically sensed at the same location within saidin-common portion of said first and second areas regardless of whetherthe status indicator is in the unexposed or partly exposed position and,alternately, to allow the discontinuity to be sensed at another locationwithin a particular portion of the first area not in-common with thesecond are only when the status indicator is in the unexposed position.2. A film cassette as recited in claim 1, wherein said status indicatoris supported for movement relative to said cassette shell to be disposedin a third unique exposure-related position comprising an exposedposition for providing a visible indication that said filmstrip issubstantially completely exposed, and said discontinuity occupies athird area when said status indicator is in its exposed position thatdoes not extend to either one of the respective locations thediscontinuity can be sensed when the status indicator is in itsunexposed and partly exposed positions to prevent the discontinuity frombeing sensed at each one of those locations when the status indicator isin the exposed position.
 3. A film cassette as recited in claim 2,wherein a filmspool is supported for rotation within said cassette shellabout a central axis to advance said filmstrip automatically from theshell, said cassette shell exteriorly supports said status indicator forrotation about the central axis from its unexposed position to itspartly exposed position to its exposed position, and said statusindicator includes and annular lip-like member which is concentricallyarranged about the central axis and has a gap that defines the limits ofsaid discontinuity.
 4. A film cassette as recited in claim 3, whereinsaid discontinuity includes a beveled surface which is located withinsaid gap and is inclined relative to said annular lip-like member.
 5. Afilm cassette capable of advancing a filmstrip automatically from alight-tight cassette shell whether said filmstrip is generally unexposedor partly exposed, is characterized in that:a film-exposure statusindicator is supported for movement relative to said cassette shell tobe disposed in any one of three unique exposure-related positionscomprising an unexposed position for providing a visible indication thatsaid filmstrip is generally unexposed, a partly exposed position forproviding a visible indication that the filmstrip is only partlyexposed, and an exposed position for providing a visible indication thatthe filmstrip is substantially completely exposed; said status indicatorincludes an elongate physical discontinuity which occupies first andsecond partly in-common areas when the status indicator is in itsunexposed and partly exposed positions, respectively, to allow saiddiscontinuity to be identically sensed at the same exact location withinan in-common portion of said first and second areas regardless ofwhether the status indicator is in the unexposed or partly exposedposition and, alternatively, to allow the discontinuity to be sensed atanother location within a particular portion of the first area notin-common with the second area only when the status indicator is in theunexposed position, and which occupies a third area when the statusindicator is in its exposed position that does not extend to either oneof the exact locations to prevent said discontinuity from being sensedat each one of those locations when the status indicator is in theunexposed position.
 6. A film cassette capable of advancing a filmstripautomatically from a light-tight cassette shell whether said filmstripis generally unexposed or partly exposed, is characterized in that:afilm-exposure status indicator is supported for movement relative tosaid cassette shell to be disposed in any one of three uniqueexposure-related positions comprising an unexposed position forproviding a visible indication that said filmstrip is generallyunexposed, a partly exposed position for proving a visible indicationthat the filmstrip is only partly exposed, and an exposed position forproviding a visible indication that the filmstrip is substantiallycompletely exposed; said status indicator includes lock-out meanscapable of being detected when the indicator is in its partly exposedposition and its exposed position for the purpose of preventinginsertion of said film cassette into various cameras intended to be usedwith the film cassette, whereby said film cassette is adapted toaccommodate a relatively simple camera not intended to receive the filmcassette with a partly exposed filmstrip and a more complex cameraintended to receive the latter cassette.